The Elements of the Vedantic Philosophy

8/13/2019 The Elements of the Vedantic Philosophy

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THE ELEMENTS OF THE VEDANTIC PHILOSOPHY

1

THE ELEMENTS

OF THE

VEDANTIC PHILOSOPHY..

TRANSLATED FROM THE TAMIL

BY

THEREV. THOMAS FOULKES,

CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY, MADRAS.

WILLIAMS AND NORGATE,

14, HENRIETTA STREET, COVENT GARDEN, LONDON;

AND

20, SOUTH FREDERICK STREET, EDINBURGH.

1860.


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I perfectly agree with those who are of opinion, that one correct version of any

celebrated Hindu book would be of greater value than all the dissertations or essays that could

be composed on the same subject. SIRWM. JONES Works. Vol. I p. 163. Edit. 1799.

This, [namely, the Vedantam] we shall find is the field on which the battle with Hindu

philosophy must ultimately be fought. DR. J. R. BALLANTYNE. Christianity contrasted with

Hindu Philosophy, p. xviii.


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NANASIVAVATHAKKATTALEI:

OR THE ELEMENTS OF THE CONTROVERSY RESPECTING THE

PLURALITY OF SOULS,

BY

SESHATTRISIVATESIKAR.

I. The Deity.

1. BRAHMAND SAKTI.

There is an inseparable energy, or Sakti, in Omniscient pure Brahm, just as there is heat

in fire.

When this Sakti is concealed in that unassociated Brahm it is called Absolute Brahm.1

[1Sutta Brahm]

When this Sakti becomes visible, and envelopes Absolute Brahm, Brahm in that state

is called Supreme Brahm,2because it exists within that universal envelope. [2Para Brahm]

2. THEATTRIBUTESOFSAKTI.

Just as love is excited in woman by the presence of man, so the three unchangeable

attributes, Satwam, Rajas, and Tamas,3are induced in the hitherto attributeless Sakti by the

presence of Brahm. [3Goodness, Passion, Malignity: Or, Composure, Excitement, Depression: Or, Normal

state, Over-activity, In-activity.]

Satwam when pure and uninfluenced by the other attributes is called the Joy-enformed

Sakti.1[1Ananta-rupa-sakti.]

Pure Rajas is called the Knowledge-enformed Sakti.2[2Sit-rupa-sakti .]

Pure Tamas is called the Existence-enformed Sakti.3[3Sat-rupa-sakti .]

3. BRAHM AND THE ATTRIBUTES OF SAKTI.

Supreme Brahm, when united to the Joy-enformed Sakti, and being in the profound

sleep of perfect bliss, 4is called the All-enjoying One.5

This All-enjoying One, when united to the Knowledge-enformed Sakti, and being in

the state of dreamy sleep called Universal light,6loses the name All-enjoying One, and is

called the All-pervading One.7


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This All-pervading One, when united to the Existence-enformed Sakti, and being in

the state of wakefulness called the Universal envelope,8loses the name All-pervading One,

and is called The supreme.9

[4Sarvanantasrutti. 5 Paramanantan. 6Sarvaprakasam. 7Paripuranam. 8Sarvavyapakam. 9Paran.]

II. Nature.

1.THE DEVELOPMENT OF NATURE.

Just as there is an appearance of silvery brightness in the pearl-oyster shell, so in that

perfect, all pervading, existence-knowledge-and-joy-possessing Brahm a Sakti is produced

called Original-passiva-nature.10[10Mula-prakruti.]

This Original Nature is united to the three several attributes Satwam, Rajas, and Tamas,

in their imperfect or mixed state.

i. THE SATWAM-ATTRIBUTE OF NATURE.

The Gooness-Attribute1 of this Original Nature is called The Illusion,2The troubler of

the Omniscient, 3 and The causative body of The lord.4

In this Illusion Brahm is reflected, endued with all his attributes, just as a mans face is

reflected in clear water.

This Illusion, namely the normal condition of Original Nature, possesses the three

compound attributes, Satwam-in-Satwam, Rajas-in-Satwam, and Tamas-in-Satwam.

When Satwam-in-Satwam is predominant, The lord5reflected in it is called Vishnu,

because he preserves the world.

When Rajas-in-Satwam is predominant, The lord reflected in it is called Brahman,

because he creates the world.

When Tamas-in-Satwam preponderates, The lord reflected in it is called Ruttran,

because he destroys the world.

These are the institutes of the Goodness-attribute of Original Nature.

[1Satwam. 2Mayei. 3Sarvajnavupati. 4Iswaran-karana-sariram5Iswaran.]

ii. THE RAJAS-ATTRIBUTE OF NATURE.

The Rajas-attribute of Original Nature contains many distinct bodily forms, differing

from each other in relative size in a regularly progressing series. These are called Irrationals,1

and The causative bodies of human souls.2


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In these Irrationals divine Brahm is reflected like the reflection of a face in dirty water.

These deity-reflections are called Possessors of little knowledge,3 and Destroyers of

knowledge.4

These Little-knowing one possess the three compound attributes Satwam-in-Rajas,

Rajas-in-Rajas, and Tamas-in-Rajas.

When Satwam-in-Rajas preponderates, the Knowledge-destroyers reflected in it

become Possessors of the knowledge of the elementary subtances.5

When Rajas-in-Rajas preponderates, the Knowledge-destroyers reflected in it become

Possessors of activity,6possessing carnal desires and anger.

When Tamas-in-Rajas preponderates, the Knowledge-destroyers reflected in it become

Possessors of idleness, sleep, and unconsciousness.

These are the institutes of the Rajas-attribute of Original Nature.

[1Avittei. 2Siva-karana-sariram. 3Kinsijnar. 4Sit-apasa-sivar. 5Tatwagnana-nishtar. 6Karma-nishtar.]

iii. THE TAMAS-ATTRIBUTE OF NATURE.

In the Tamas attribute of Original Nature there are two Saktis, the power of

concealment,1and the power of disclosure.2

[1Avaranam. 2Viksepam.]

(1) THECONCEALINGSAKTI.

Of these two the concealing sakti conceals the difference between the three kinds of

bodies, the Knowledge-destroyers, and the Omnipresent deity, from all living beings except

the Possessors of the knowledge of the elementary substances and The lord.

Wherefore the man from whom these things are concealed is puffed up with the idea

that the twenty-nine substances constitute his self-hood. This puffing up is called The chaplet

of self-consciousness,3and Family-bondage.4

To put away this concealing Sakti through the gracious assistance of ones spiritual

instructor, and to know that the twenty-nine substances do not constitute ones self-hood, -

this is the final beatitude of true freedom.5

These are the operations of the concealing Sakti.

[3Akankara-kranti. 4Samsara-pantam5Mukti.]

(2) THE REVEALING SAKTI.

In the Revealing Sakti Ether makes its appearance which is the rudiment of sound.

In Ether, Air makes its appearance, which is the rudiment of Sensation.


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In Air, Fire makes its appearance, which is the rudiment of Form.

In Fire, Water becomes manifest, which is the rudiment of Taste.

In Water, Earth makes its appearance, which is the rudiment of Smell.

And since these three compound attributes, namely Satwam-in-Tamas, Rajas-in-Tamas, and Tamas-in-Tamas, are possessed by this Revealing Sakti, which is the originating

cause of those five atomic elements, it follows that the results of that cause, namely, those five

elements themselves, are also possessed of those three attributes when they make their

appearance.

These five elements are called The rudiments,1The indivisible five elements,2and The

atomic elements.3

In these atomic elements The atomic bodies4and The expanded elements5make their

appearance in the following manner:-

[1Tanmatram. 2Apanjikruta-putam. 3Sukshma-putam. 4Sukshma-sariram. 5Stula-putam.]

(a) THE SATWA DIVISION:-

THE DEVELOPMENT OF ATOMIC BODIES.

(1) In the Satwa division of the five elements the sun-total of the rudiments of those

elements when united together into one substance, forms The internal organization.1

The evidence of the unity of the Ether division with this internal organization is this,

that, like the ether, the internal organization affords room for every kind of sound, while it is

itself motionless. This motionless organization is called The internal capacity.2

The evidence of the unity of the Air division with the Internal Organization is this, that,

like the air, the Internal Organization also has a fluctuating motion. This fluctuating

organization is called The intellect.3

The evidence of the unity of the Fire division with the Internal Organization is this, that,

like fire, it sheds its light upon objects, and shows the difference between them. This

enlightening organization is called The judgment.4

The evidence of the unity of the Water division with the Internal Organization is this,

that like water and other fluids, it flows forth. This flowing Organization is called The reason.5

The evidence of the unity of the Earth division with the Internal Organization is this,

that, like the earth, it stands firmly self-collected, and boasts itself that it is the self-hood. This

organization is called Self-consciousness.6

[1Antakaranam. 2 Ullam. 3 Manas. 4 Putti. 5 Sittam. 6 Akankarum]


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(2) In the Satwa division of those five elements the different rudiments of each

element in their separatecondition become the different Organs of knowledge.1

[1Gnanentriyam.]

The ear belongs to the Ether division, and therefore it perceives only the attribute of

ether, namely, Sound.

The human skin belongs to the Air division; and therefore it perceives only the attribute

of air, namely, Sensation.

The eye belongs to the Fire division; and therefore it perceives only the attribute of fire,

namely, Form.

Moreover, the tongue belongs to the Water division; and therefore it perceives only the

attributes of water, namely, Taste.

And, lastly, the nose belongs to the Earth division; and therefore it perceives only the

attribute of earth, namely, Smell.

Thus, since these different organs of knowledge do not unite together, but always

continue separate from each other, no one of them is capable of perceiving the proper attribute

of any other.

Since also the sum of the whole five rudiments of the five elements constitutes the

Internal Organization, this Internal Organization perceives the five kinds of objects of sense by

uniting itself to those five organs of knowledge.

The five-fold Internal Organization, together with the five organs of knowledge,

making a total of ten, and forming the Satwa division, constitute the Instrument of knowledge.1

[1Gnana-satanam.]

(b). THE RAJAS DIVISION.

(1) In the Rajas division of the five elements the union of the different rudiments of each

element produces the five Vital-winds of the human body.

Of these the Universal-wind2belongs to the Ether division; and, like ether, it is diffused

throughout the whole body.

The Life-wind3belongs to the Air division; and like air, it fluctuates between the chestand the nostrils.

The Lower-wind4belongs to the Fire division; and, like fire, it produces the internal

heat of the human body; and, settling itself in the abdomen, it assimilates mans food.


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The Central-wind5belongs to the Water division; and from its proper position in the

umbilical region of the body, it flows, like water, through all the veins, driving through them

the mans solid and liquid nourishment.

The Upper-wind6belongs to the Earth division; and it stands firmly self-collected, like

the earth, in the region of mans throat.

[1Gnana-satanam. 2Viyana-vayu. 3Prana-vayu. 4Apana-vayu. 5Samana-vayu. 6Utana-vayu.]

Besides these five winds some writers speak of five others added to them, making in

all ten. These additional winds are the following: - The Vomiter1, which produces vomiting at

the mouth: The Tortoise2, which causes the twinkling of the eye: The Sneezer3, which produces

a tickling of the nostrils: Gods gift4, which causes yawning: and The Enricher5, which enlarges

the size of the body. But these latter five are to be regarded as mere functions of the Life-wind.

(2) In the Rajas division of the five elements the several germ-particles of each

element in their un-unitedstate become respectively The organs of action6.

[1Nakan, 2 Kurman, 3 Krikaran. 4Tevatattan. 5Tananjayan. 6Karmentriyam.]

Of these, The mouth belongs to the Ether division, and utters Speech. The Hand belongs to the

Air division, and gives and receives. The Foot belongs to the Fire division, and walks. The

Bowel belongs to the Water division, and rejects the excrements. The Organs of generation

belong to the Earth division, and are the seat of pleasure.

These five, existing in permanent separation from each other, cannot perform each

others functions.

The Five winds, inasmuch as they are united to the several germ-particles of the above

elements, perform their five functions by joining themselves to the five organs of action.

These five winds and five organs of action, in all ten, belonging to the Rajas division,

constitute The instrument of action.1

These twenty primitive substances2are called The atomic body.3

By means of these twenty substances The lord4 reflected in The Illusion5 creates a

distinct atomic body for each of the souls reflected in The Irrationals.6

Thus the Satwam and Rajas division of the five elements are exhausted. The Tamas

division remains.

These are the institutes of The atomic body.

[1Kriyasatanam. 2Tatwam. 3Suksma-sariram. 4Iswaran. 5 Mayei. 6Avittei. 7Stula-putam. 8 Stula-sariram.]


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(c) THE TAMAS DIVISION.

In this Tamas division so remaining to be considered The expanded elements7and The

expanded bodies8 make their appearance from the five atomic elements in the following

manner:

(1) THE EXPANDED ELEMENTS.

Each of these five elements belonging to the Tamas division is divided into two parts.

The first half of these sections of each of the five elements is sub-divided into four parts. The

second half of each of the five elements leaves its own division and joins itself to an eighth part

of each of the other four elements, and so forms a compound of five.1

In this five-fold compound of the expanded elements, that is to say, in their Ether

division, the four attributes, touch, form, taste, and smell, are covered over, and are therefore

invisible: and its own proper attribute, sound, alone appears visibly.

In their Air division, the three attributes form, taste, and smell, are covered over, andare therefore invisible: and its causative attribute, sound, together with its own proper attribute,

touch, appear visibly.

[1The following diagrams taken from a native chart of Vedantism will help to elucidate this passage:-]

The divisions:-

Ether. Air. Fire. Water. Earth.

The five-fold combinations:-

Ether Ether

Air Air

Fire FireWater Water

Earth Earth

In their Fire division, the two attributes taste and smell, are covered over, and are

therefore invisible: but its causative attributes, sound and touch, together with its own proper

attribute, form, appear visibly.


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In their Water division, the attribute smell is covered over, and is therefore invisible:

while its causative attributes, sound, touch, and form, together with its own proper attribute,

taste, appear visibly.

In their Earth division, the causative attributes of earth, sound, touch, form, and taste,

together with its own proper attribute, smell, all appear visibly.

(2) EXPANDED BODIES.

Just as the atomic body made its appearance from the atomic element, so also from the

expanded element the expanded body makes its appearance, having its six primitive-

substances,1its four kinds of birth-appearances, and its three distinct classes. [1 Tatwam.]

These six substances are the following.

Skin,

Blood,

Flesh,

Nerves, and Veins,

Bones,

Marrow.

The four kinds of generation are the following, -

Womb-born,

Egg-born,

Perspiration-born,

Seed-born.

The three-classes are the following,-

The high-class, namely man, who is possessed of the two kinds of wisdom, earth-

wisdom, and heaven-wisdom.

The middle class, namely beasts and birds, distinguished by their crooked course, are

without heaven-wisdom, and possess earth-wisdom alone.

Trees, &c., which are possessed of neither the one wisdom nor the other, constitute the

low-class.

These three classes which exist in the primitive-substance earth, exist also in the world

of departed-spirits,1the world of gods2the world of choristes,3and the world of sages.4These

worlds are the results respectively of the primitive-substances, water, fire, air, and ether. In


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these worlds there are the Moon and other manes, the Sun and other gods, the choristers, the

prophets, &c., belonging to the high-class; the cow of plenty,5Indras elephant,6Vishnus kite,7

&c., belonging to the middle-class; and the celebrated tree of Indras paradise,8 &c., belonging

to the low-class.

[1 Pithir-lokam. 2 Teva-lokam. 3 Kantarva-lokam. 4 Sittar-lokam. 5 Kamatenu. 6 Eiravatam. 7 Karutan. 8

Kalpaka-vruksam.]

THE THREE BODIES OF THE SOUL:-

Of the five receptacles, The food-receptacle,1 The life-receptacle,2 The mind-

receptacle3 The knowledge-receptacle4 and The pleasure-receptacle,5 the expanded body

constitutes The food-receptacle.

The atomic body is constituted of the three receptacles, the life-receptacle, the mind-

receptacle, and the knowledge-receptacle. These are as follows:-

The life-wind and the organ of action united form the life-receptacle. The intellect andthe organ of action united form the mind-receptacle. The judgment and the organ of knowledge

united form the knowledge-receptacle.

The causative body constitutes the pleasure-receptacle.

[1 Annamaya-kosam. 2 Pranamaya-kosam. 3 Manomaya-kosam. 4 Anantamaya-kosam. 5 Viggnanamaya-

kosam.]

THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE ELEMENTS OF THE ATOMIC BODY IN THE

EXPANDED-BODY.

The primitive-substances of the atomic-body exist in the expanded body, which is itself

composed of six primitive-substances, in the following manner,-

Speech, which is one of the organs of action, and the tongue, which is one of the organs

of knowledge, are on the mouth. The upper-wind is in the throat. The life-wind and the

judgment are in the chest. The central-wind and the reason are in the umbilical region. The

lower-wind and the bowel are at the extremity of the body. The universal-wind and the skin,

which is one of the organs of knowledge, together also with the self-consciousness, are

distributed throughout all the members of the body.

The following organs exist separately from each other in positions above the neck,

namely, the mental-capacity1in the head; the organ of sight2in the tip of the pupil of the eye;

the organ of hearing3within the cavity of the ear; and the organ of smell4 at the tip of the nose.

Below the neck the following organs exist in a separate state, namely, the hand, the foot, and

the bowel.

Thus because the six primitive substances of the expanded body, and the twenty

primitive substances of the atomic body which have entered into them, - making together


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twenty-six primitive substances,- are the products of the five elements, these expanded and

atomic bodies which are so composed of them are called The resultative body.5

[1Ullam.2Saksu-intriyam. 3Srottirentriyam. 4Kranentriyam. 5Kariya-sarira. 6Sitapasan. 7Avittei.]

THE UNION OF THE SOUL WITH THESE BODIES:-

When the Knowledge-destroyer,6which is reflected in the Irrationals,7is joined to these

twenty-six primitive substances, and exists in the state of wakeness, this Knowledge-destroyer

is called The pervading one,1and The soul of business.2

When it leaves the expanded body and is united to the atomic body, and exists in the

state of dreamy sleep, it is called The shining one,3and He who shines with reflected light,4

and also The author of sleep.5

When he leaves the twenty-six primitive substances of the resultative body, and is

united to the causative body alone, and exists in the state of profound sleep, he is called The

all-wise,6

and The supremely wise.7

THE FOUR STATES OF BRAHM.

When divine Brahm exists in the state of wakefulness it is called The soul of life.8

When it exists in the state of dreamy sleep it is called The internal soul.9

When it exists in the state of profound sleep, it is called The supreme soul.10

When it exists in all three states at the same time it is called The soul of knowledge,11

and The unchangeable primeval one.12

[1Viswan.2Vyavakarika-sivan . 3Teisatan. 4Pratipatika-sivan . 5 Sorpana-karpitan. 6 Praggnan. 7Parammartika-

sivan. 8 Sivatma. 9Antaratma. 10Paramatma. 11 Gnanatma. 12Kudastan.]

The three states of the soul, and its three bodies have now been explained.

THE BODIES OF THE DEITY:-

The sum-total of the expanded five elements, which appear in the form of the created

world, and the three classes of expanded bodies which are manifested in those elements, is

called The expanded body of The lord, and The self-shining one.1The lord when united to this

self-shining one and being in the state of wakefulness, is called The world-embodied

imperishable one.2 And the supreme deity while dwelling in this is called The source of

increase.3

The five atomic elements and the atomic bodies manifested in them are called The

atomic body of The lord,4and The womb of inanimate matter.5 The lord when united to this

his atomic body, and being in the state of dreamy sleep, is called The thread-soul,6(i.e. the

thread by which puppets are set in motion in a puppet-show). The supreme deity while dwelling

in this thread-soul is called The all-enveloping one.7


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[1Viraj. 2Veisvanaran. 3Brahman. 4Iswaran-suksma-sariram. 5Ranya-karpam. 6 Sutratma. 7Vishnu.]

The Illusion, when dwelling habitually with these two developments of the atomic and

expanded elements of bodies is called The causative body of The lord, 1and The unchangeable

one.2The lord when united with this his causative body, and being in the state of profound

sleep, is called The in-dweller.3And the supreme deity, when inhabiting this in-dweller, is

called The weeping one.4

These are the three bodies and the three states of The lord.

BRAHM THE SOUL OF THE UNIVERSE.

Just as the soul in its three states continues united to the twenty-seven primitive

substances which constitute its three bodies, and self-consciously exclaims, It is I; so also

The lord in his three states is united to the thirty-two primitive substances which constitute his

three bodies.

Nevertheless the knowledge destroying soul is united to its own proper body alone:whereas The lord is united to all bodies whatsoever, forasmuch as they constitute his own

proper body, and also to all worlds.

The divine Brahm is not only present in both of these, but also fills all bodies and all

worlds; and besides this extends beyond them so as to be absolutely illimitable.

[1Iswaran-karana-sariram. 2Avvyakrutam. 3Antaryami, 4Ruttran.]

DISTRIBUTION OF THE PRIMITIVE SUBSTANCES.

The primitive substances1 incidental to the functions of the expanded body of the soul

are the following:-

The primitive substances of the Food-receptacle, - 6

The primitive substances of atomic body, - 20

The soul, The lord, Ignorance, Knowledge and Brahm, - 5

Total - 31

The primitive substances appertaining to the functions of the atomic body are these:-

The primitive substances of the atomic body, - 20


Total - 25

The primitive substances appertaining to the causative body are the following:-



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The primitive substances appertaining to the functions of the soul are the following:-

The soul, The lord, Brahm, - 3

That which appertains to the Omniscient is this, namely:-

The primeval one, - 1

The primitive substances which appertain to the functions of the expanded body of The

lord are these:-

The primitive substances of the Food-receptacle, - 6


The soul, and Ignorance, - 2

The lord, Knowledge, and Brahm, - 3

The expanded elements, - 5

Total - 36

The primitive substances of his atomic body are:-


The soul and Ignorance - 2

The atomic elements, - 5


Total - 30

The primitive substances appertaining to the functions of his causative body are:-


Appertaining to the functions of God are:-

The lord and Brahm, - 2

Appertaining to the functions of Brahm:-

Brahm, - 1

The primitive substances appertaining to the functions of the Sensorium1are these:- [1

Intriyam.]

The sensorium, - 1

The six primitive substances of The food receptacle, - 6


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The internal organization, - 5

The winds, - 5


Total - 22

The primitive substances belonging to the functions of the dominion of the mind are

these:-

The internal organization, - 5


Total - 10

These are the manifestations and the constitution of the primitive substances.

2. THE SUBSIDENCE OF NATURE.

The mode of the subsidence of the primitive substances is as follows.

The expanded bodies which belong to all living souls will be dissolved in the expanded

elements which form their base; and upon this subsidence those elements alone will remain.

Then these expanded elements themselves will lose their five-fold division, and remain

in the form of the rudimental elements of the attribute Tamas.

This state of things is that which is called The golden womb of the universe.1

[1Ranyakarppavastei .]

The twenty primitive substances of the atomic body will be dissolved, and subside into

the remaining two attributes of these elements, namely, Satwam and Rajas. This will take place

in the following manner:-

The self-consciousness, the organ of smell, the upper wind, and the organs of

generation, in every animated being will subside into the earth.

The thought, the tongue, the central wind, and the bowel will subside into water.

The judgment, the eye, the lower wind, and the foot, will subside into fire.

The mind, the skin, the life-wind, and the hand, will subside into air.

The internal capacity, the ear, the universal wind, and the mouth, will subside into ether.

Then the atomic elements alone will remain, possessing the three original attributes, as

in the beginning.

Of these atomic elements earth will be dissolved and subside into water.


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Water will be drunk up, and subside into fire.

Fire will be extinguished as a candle, and subside into air.

Air, deprived of motion, will subside into ether.

And ether itself will subside into the Revealing Sakti.

The Concealing and the Revealing Saktis will subside into The Illusion and the

Irrationals, so as to become the attribute Rajas of Original Nature; just as a banyan tree subsides

into its seed in order to become the germ of a new creature.

The Illusion also and the Irrationals will then subside into the exceedingly small and

atomic Original Nature.

Then this Original Nature itself will subside into its own proper place, namely, the

divine Brahm, just as the deceptive snake disappears and the real rope alone is seen; so that

Brahm alone may remain.

He who can thus perceive all deceptively visible things to be the one only true

substance, and can clearly comprehend that that same substance is his own proper form, and

thus extinguish care, this man is a beatified soul.1[1Sivan-muktan.]

This is the manner of the subsidence of the primitive substances.

The primitive substances which thus subside are thirty-six in number, namely,

The elements, - 5

The primitive substances of the expanded body, - 6


The Irrational and Rational which constitute the causative body, - 2

The soul and The lord reflected in these, - 2

Brahm who envelopes all these, - 1

Total - 36

(1) Of these eight are possessed by all souls in common, namely,

The five common elements, - 5

The Illusion, - 1

The lord reflected in the Illusion, - 1

Brahm, - 1

Total - 8


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But the remaining twenty-eight are possessed in a separate and independent form, as

will be presently shown: since

If earth be destroyed there will remain no resting place for the animated creation.

If there be no water left they will have no means of refreshing themselves, neither will

there be any means of moistening the universal dryness.

If there be no fire left there can be no preparation of food.

If there be no air left there can be no possibility of motion.

If there be no ether left then no existing thing can have an abiding-place.

If there be no Illusion, and no one reflected in that Illusion, then there would be no

divinity for the different sects of religion to worship.

If Brahm be not left, then no being can possess knowledge.

Therefore these eighth are common to all alike.

(2) The remaining twenty-eight are possessed in a separate form in the following manner:-

When the expanded body of any single individual is destroyed, the expanded bodies of

other persons are not affected by it, but continue undestroyed.

When the atomic body of any individual suffers the loss of any of its members, the

atomic bodies of all living beings do not suffer that loss of members with it.

Although the sages Sukar and Vamatevar, and other beatified persons have conquered

their ignorance and submerged their personality, the ignorance and personality of all otherpersons remain undisturbed.

Wherefore there can be no doubt that souls possess these twenty-eight primitive

substances in their individual capacity.

(3) Of these thirty-six primitive substances one always assumes to itself the self-hood:

seven always appear to be foreign to that self-hood: and twenty-eight belong to the self-hood

and to that which is foreign to the self-hood indifferently.

That is to say, since divine Brahm, who is present in all the three states of existence, is

self-manifest in all those states, and cannot, like the other primitive substances, be made

manifest to himself from without, divine Brahm alone is the true self-hood.

Since a man can never contemplate the five divine operations, the ten incarnations, and

such like things, which constitute the functions of The lord reflected in the illusion, of the

illusion itself, and of the five elements, and think them to be his own functions, those seven

primitive substances are evidently foreign to himself.


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Of the remaining twenty-eight, since the six which belong to the expanded body are

spoken of on the one hand as constituting the self-hood, as for instance, I am a Brahmin, I

am a Kshatriyan, I a Veisyan, I am a Suttran, I am a Bramasari, I am a Krakastan, I am

a Vanaprastan, I am a Sannyasi, I am a male, I am a female, I am a dark-complexioned

man, I am a light-complexioned man, I am a tall man, I am a short man, I have grown

stout, I have become thin; and on the other hand objectivelyas for instance, just as we say,My ox, My calf, so exactly do we say also, My body has grown stout, My body has

become thin, My hair has become gray, My body has been in existence for such and such a

length of time: since also the twenty primitive substances of the atomic body are sometimes

spoken of subjectively, as for instance, I saw, heard, touched, gave and received, walked,

enjoyed, examined, decided, I have survived this famine; and sometimes objectively, as for

instance, just as we say My house, or My property, so we say also, My eye, My ear, My

nose, My tongue, My hand, My foot, My mind, My judgment, My self-

consciousness, My intellect, My life: since also the primitive substances of the causative

body, namely Ignorance and the Knowledge-destroyer, are sometimes spoken of subjectively,

as for instance I do not know, I know,; and sometimes objectively, as for instance, My

ignorance, My soul:- it follows that these twenty-eight primitive substances are possessed

both subjectively and objectively.

III. Conclusion.

The disciple, addressing the teacher who had taught him these doctrines, put to him the

following question:-

If these twenty-eight primitive substances constitute a mans self-hood it can only be

necessary for him to exist in one condition alone, namely, in the form of The omniscient one;

there can be no necessity for an existence external to himself in the form of The lord,1 [1Iswaran.]

the Illusion, and the five elements: or else, on the other hand, if these twenty-eight primitive

substances are in reality external to himself they must always continue external to him, and

therefore they cannot constitute his self-hood. This doctrine, then, that they are at the same

time the mans self-hood and also external to him is a self-contradiction, like the midnight sun

of the fable.

To this objection the teacher replied as follows:-

We speak of a mans self-hood in two distinct senses: in the one case we speak of that

self-hood in the strict meaning of the word; but in the other merely by way of adaptation to

circumstances. When we speak of The omniscient one being that self-hood, we speak in the

strict sense, and without any admixture of metaphor. But when we speak of these twenty-eight

external things being that self-hood, we speak under the influence of infirmity, just as when we

mistake a rubbing post on the road-side for a man, or a rope for a snake; in fact we do not speak

the strict truth.

Wherefore, he that comprehends the complex doctrine respecting those seven primitive

substances which, while he was in a state of ignorance, he believed did not constitute his self-

hood, and the remaining twenty-eight primitive substances which, when he had attained that


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knowledge he ascertained did not constitute his self-hood, namely the whole thirty-five

primitive substances, together with their attributes and evidences; - he that clearly understands

the fact that, just as while he is in the act of contemplating this entangled truth he is himself

distinct from it, so also is he equally distinct from those primitive substances when he is in the

act of contemplating them, - that that very knowledge is the self-hood and constitutes in itself

the thirty-sixth primitive substance, - that that knowledge is itself the state of beatitude;- thisman is a beatified soul.1 [1Sivan-muktan.]

On the other hand, the ignorant man, who is unable to distinguish between these things,

and to comprehend that the deity himself is his very self-hood, and that those thirty-five

primitive substances are foreign to himself, is like the man who, through the bondage of self-

consciousness, fancies the anxieties of his wife and family to be his own personal anxieties,

and who, foolishly esteeming the functions of the twenty-eight primitive substances to be his

own proper duty, becomes bound with the sinful and meritorious deeds which those twenty-

eight substances have accumulated, and through this infatuation becomes involved also, on

account of those retributable things, in the world of births and deaths with all their

accompanying evils.

The wise man, who clearly perceives that the deity is his own self-hood, and that the

thirty-five primitive substances are not so, is freed from the chains of self-consciousness: he is

free also from his original infatuation, forasmuch as he knows for certain that the functions of

the twenty-eight substances are not his own functions, and that the things which are

experienced by those twenty eight substances are not his own experiences: he is, moreover,

free from the sinful and meritorious deeds which those twenty-eight substances had

accumulated: and therefore he is become a beatified one, free from the world of births and

deaths, and such like evils, and is in fact the deity itself.

This man it is that the six shastrams call a beatified soul, a man of impregnable wisdom,

one who has neither caste, nor relationships, nor human attributes, in short, a Brahmin

May all who study these things attain to perfect bliss.1 [1Moksham.]

The Elements of the Vedantic Philosophy

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